Tubular lantern



(N0 Modeli) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

0. BETTS. TUBULAR LANTERN.

No. 598,072. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

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(No Model.) j 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' G. L. BETTS.

TUBULAR LANTERN.

No. 598,072. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

WITNESSES: a,

ATTORNEYS- 5R5 ca, momuma, WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATES rrrcn.

PATENT CHARLES L. BETTS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE R. E. DIETZCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE, AND THE STEAM GAUGE AND LANTERN COMPANY, OFSYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TUBULAR LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,072, dated.February 1, 1898. Application filed December 30, 1895. $erial No.573,765. (No model.)

To all? whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. BETTs, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Tubular Lanterns, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to lanterns which are provided with tubes throughwhich air for the support of the flame is conducted to the burner fromthe upper part of the lantern.

The principal object of my invention is to produce a short or lowlantern which produces a large and powerful flame and in which theoil-pot and globe are removable from the lantern-frame in the samemanner in which these parts are now' removable in ordinaryrailroad-lanterns.

Other objects of my invention are to improve the construction of thedevices whereby a constant air-supply in the proper direction ismaintained through the tubes and to provide convenient means for adjustin g the wick and for securing the burner in place.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is avertical section of a lantern provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section in line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking upward. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section in line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 4 is afragrncn tary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of theair-injecting devices in the upper part of the lantern, the plane ofsection extending through the central lines of the air-tubes, as inFig. 1. Fig. 5 is asectional elevation of the chimney and connectingparts in the upper part of the lantern, the plane of section being atright angles to the plane of the air-tubes and at right'angles to theplane of section of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through oneof the tubes in line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thelantern. at right angles to Fig. 1 and showing the top released-andpartly swung back. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the lower collar ofthe lantern-frame and connecting parts. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevationof the lower collar of the lantern-frame and the oil-pot, the sectionbeing taken in line 9- 9,

Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the oil-pot with the burnerremoved. Fig. 11 is an elevation of the burner. Fig. 12 is a horizontalsection through the burner and its socket in line 12 12, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the oil pot, carrying the burner a.

B represents the lower collar or cylindrical hoop of the lantern-frame,in which the oilpot is removably secured in any suitable and well-knownmanner, so that the oil-pot can be inserted into this collar from belowand can be removed downwardly. The oil-pot is secured in this collar byany kind of suitable and well-known fastening devices-for instances,studs or pins Z2, secured to the sides of the oil-pot and entering slotsb in the collar in the manner of a bayonet-fastening, and alocking-spring 12 which prevents the accidental turning of the oil-potin the collar.

0 represents the air-tubes, which are secured with their lower ends tothe collar B and which open into the same below an annular plate D,which is secured to the collar above the lower enlarged portion or skirta of the burner-cone. This annular plate surrounds the burner-cone andforms the top of an airchamber within the collar, which air-chamber isinclosed at the top by this annular plate, at the bottom by the top ofthe oil-pot, and

at the side by the collar B. The open lower I end of the skirt of theburner-cone stands at a short distance above the top of the oil-pot, asshown in Fig. 1, so that the air entering this chamber from theair-tubes enters the lower portion of the burner-cone and passesupwardly through the latter and so supplies the flame.

0 represents perforations which are formed in the upper portion of thecollar B above the annular plate D and through which air enters thelower portion of the globe E outside of the burner. The air-tubes extendupwardly to the level of the top of the globe or thereabout and areconnected at their upper ends by a guard-ring F, of wire or othersuitable material. A similar guard-ring F is secured to the tubesfarther down, and these two rings and the lower collar B are connectedby upright guard wires or bars F so that the tubes, the horizontalguard-rings, the upright guardwires, and the lower collar formtogether'a lantern-frame into which the oil-pot is inserted from belowand the globe from above, the globe being seated upon the lower collar.The outer exposed portions of the tubes are reinforced and protected byupright wires G, which are secured by soldering or tinning to the tubesalong the outer portions thereof. These wires extend from the lower tothe upper ends of each air-tube and are provided at their upper endswith outwardly and upwardly projecting ears g, in which the ends of thebail g engage. Each set of reinforcing wires orstrips is preferablyformed of a single length, bent to form a bail-ear and having its twoparts or branches extending downwardly side by side from the ear to thelower end of the tube, as shown in Fig. 7. The horizontal guard-rings FF are formed with bent portions ff, which straddle the outer sides ofthe tubes and by which the guard-rings are held against lateraldisplacement. The upright reinforcing-wires G are formed with bentportions f which straddle the bent portionsf of the lower ring F, asshown in Figs. 1, 6, and 7, so that these upright wires may serve notonly to protect the tubes, but also to bind the lower guard-ring on thetubes.

H represents the metallic chimney, which extends upwardly from the globeand which carries the usual top plate h. w

I represents the outer cylindrical wall of an air-chamber, whichsurrounds the lower portion of the chimney II and which is open at itsupper and lower 'ends.

J represents a horizontal flange or rim which is secured to the lowerend of the cylindrical wall I and extends outwardly from the latterbeyond the upper guard-ring F. This flange is hinged to the upperguard-ring on the rear side of the lantern, as shown at-j, Fig. 7, andis secured to the upper guard-ring on the front side of the lantern by aspringcatch j of any ordinary or suitable construction.

K represents pipe-elbows secured to the cylindrical wall I and theflange J and so arranged as to communicate at their lower ends with theupper ends of the air-tubes when the lantern-top is closed down. Theseelbows open through the cylindrical wall of the air.- chamber, so as toreceive the air therefrom and conduct it to the tubes.

L, Figs. 1 and 4:, represents an annular airinjecting plate arrangedhorizontally within the cylindrical wall I about opposite the middle ofthe openings Z, by which the pipe-elbows communicate with theair-chamber, so that the air is injected'into the pipe-elbows from aboveas well as from below. When the lantern is raised or swung by the bailor exposed to a downward current of air, the air in the chamber strikesagainst the upper surface of the injecting-plate and is therebydeflected intothe elbows and tubes- IVhen the lantern is lowered orexposed to an upward air-current, the air in the chamber strikes thelower surface of the injecting-plate and is thereby injected into theelbows or tubes, so that under all conditions of motion or exposuredownwardly flowing supply currents are maintained in the tubes and areversal of these currents is prevented. The annular opening throughwhich the air enters the lower end of this air chainber is preferablycontracted by an annular flange m,projecting inwardly from the wall ofthe air-chamber.

This prevents an excessive supply of air, which would tend to cut downthe flame, and also prevents back suction in raising the lantern.

n represents an angular injecting-ring arranged above the upper end ofthe air-chamber and shaped to inject air into the same. This ring issecured to the upper portion of the cylindrical wall by short legs orstandards n, so as to hold it at the proper height above the upper edgeof the cylindrical wall. I

The chimney is preferably provided with a row of openings M, whichestablish a communication between the chimney and the surroundingair-chamber, and by which the airpressure is to a certain extentequalized in these parts.

The annular injecting-plate L is soldered to the cylindrical wall I ofthe air-chamber, and the chimney H is preferably made verticallyadjustable, so that its position in the lantern-top can be regulated tofit globes of different heights, as there is frequently a slightdifference in the height of globes of the same size. For this purposethe annular injecting-plate is provided at its inner edge with adownwardly projecting cylindrical flange 0, in which the chimney fitsloosely, so that it can be raised and lowered in said flange, and thelatter has its lower edge composed of several cams or inclines, as shownat 0, Fig. 5, and the chimney is provided with a corresponding number oflaterally-projecting pins or studs 13, which engage underneath thesecams or inclines, so that by turning the chimney the latter is raised orlowered. Upon releasing the spring-catch at the front of the lantern-topthe entire top, consisting of the chimney and surrounding parts, can beswung back on its hinge, as in an ordinary railroadlantern, forinserting or removing the globe or other purposes. WVhen the globe hasbeen inserted and the top has been closed down, the pipe-elbows of thetop are seated closely upon the upper ends of the tubes, and theair-supply or injecting contrivances in the top furnish the tubes withfresh air, which is delivered by the tubes to the air-chamber in thelower collar and thence to the burner. This construction of the lanternpermits the globe and the oil-pot to be inserted and re moved in themanner usual in railroad-lanterns and furnishes a lantern in whichkerosene-oil can be burned with safety by reason of the tubular featureand which is no higher than an ordinary railroad-lantern.

q is the wick-raiser shaft of the burner, provided with a toothed wheelq for turning the shaft.

g is an actuating screw-shaft journaled in the lower collar of thelantern in such a position that when the oil-pot is secured in thecollar the toothed Wheel of the wick-raiser shaft engages with thisscrew-shaft, so that the turning of the latter will turn the wickraisershaft. The screw-shaft is provided outside of the collar with a buttonor thumbwheel g for turning it.

B, Figs. 1, 10, and 12, represents a hook or catch pivoted to the top ofthe oil-pot, so as to be capable of swinging horizontally toward andfrom the burner.

r is the burner-socket, which is secured in the top of the oil-pot inthe usual way and which is provided in its upper projecting portion withan opening 1*, through which the nose of the hook or catch R projectsinto an opening r in the lower portion of the burner, which is seated insaid socket. Upon swinging the hook outwardly it is disengaged from theburner, and upon swinging it inwardly it is engaged with the burner. Inaddition to this hook-fastening the burner is further secured in thesleeve by two bayonet-fastenings, consisting of two pins 3, secured inthe sleeve 4' on opposite sides thereof, and two L- shaped depressionsor grooves .9, formed in the lower portion of the burner and engagingtherewith by first moving the burner downwardly to seat it in the socketand then turning it until the ends of the horizontal portions of thegrooves strike the pins. These bayonet-fastenings secure the burner inthe proper position in the socket, and the hookfastening prevents theburner from being accidentally turned in the socket out of its properposition-for instance, by the operation of the wick-raiser screw-shaft.\Vhile these bayonet-fastenings facilitate the placing of the burner inthe proper position, they are not indispensable and can be omitted, ifdesired.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a tubular lantern, the combination withthe metallic chimney, of a cylindrical wall surrounding the chimney andforming therewith an air-inlet chamber which is open at its upper andlower ends, air-tubes openlng through said cylindrical wall to receivethe air from said chamber, and an annular air-injecting plate arrangedin said chamber across the openings of said air-tubes, substantially asset forth.

2. In a tubular lantern, the combination with an annular air-inletchamber and airtubes opening through the outer wall thereof, of anannular air-injecting plate arranged within said chamber across theinlet-openings of the air-tubes and secured at its outer edge to theouter wall of said chamber and provided at its inner edge with acylindrical flange, and a metallic chimney arranged within said flangeand made vertically adjustable therein, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an open-topped lantern-frame composed of a lowerportion, air-tubes and a guard secured together and adapted to have theglobe inserted from above, of a hinged top containing a metallicchimney, a cylindrical wall surrounding the chimney and formingtherewith an annular airchamber which is open at its upper and lowerends, tube-elbows opening through said cylindrical wall and an annularair-injecting plate arranged within said cylindrical wall across theopenings of said tube-elbows, substantially as set forth.

4:- The combination with the lowerlanterncollar, of a transversescrew-shaft journaled in the same and provided at its outer end with athumb-wheel, and a removable oil-pot and burner adapted to be insertedinto the collar from below, said burner having its wick-raiser shaftprovided within said collar with a toothed wheel which is arranged belowsaid screw-shaft and engages therewith when the oil-pot is in place inthe collar, whereby the oil-pot and burner can be removed withoutremoving the screw-shaft, substantiaily as set forth.

5. In a tubular lantern, the combination with the air-tubes, of aguard-ring provided with bent portions which straddle the outer surfacesof the tubes, and protecting wires or strips secured along the outersurfaces of the tubes and extending over the bent portions of saidguard-ring, substantially as set forth. itness my hand this 2eth day ofDecember, 1895.

CHARLES L. BETTS. Witnesses:

OSCAR WARNER, FRED VAN DUYN.

